Volunteer Neal Parker keeps protestors off Planned Parenthood property during a demonstration outside the building Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Volunteer Neal Parker keeps protestors off Planned Parenthood...

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Arby Reyes protests outside the gates of Planned Parenthood during a demonstration Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Arby Reyes protests outside the gates of Planned Parenthood during...

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Volunteer Joy Dansby stands outside the gates of Planned Parenthood as demonstrators protest nearby Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

A woman prays the rosary during a demonstration outside Planned Parenthood Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

A woman prays the rosary during a demonstration outside Planned...

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Cosima Owings prays during a demonstration outside Planned Parenthood Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Cosima Owings prays during a demonstration outside Planned...

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Rep. Steve Toth speaks during a demonstration outside Planned Parenthood Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Rep. Steve Toth speaks during a demonstration outside Planned...

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Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, speaks during a demonstration outside Planned Parenthood Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, speaks...

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Arby Reyes protests outside the gates of Planned Parenthood during a demonstration Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Arby Reyes protests outside the gates of Planned Parenthood during...

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Joe Kollar protests outside the gates of Planned Parenthood during a demonstration Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Joe Kollar protests outside the gates of Planned Parenthood during...

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Courtney Abernethy speaks during a demonstration outside Planned Parenthood Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Houston. The event was to protest U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that a provision in Texas law to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is unconstitutional.

Rain fell intermittently as about 35 anti-abortion protesters converged Wednesday at a south Houston Planned Parenthood.

Organized by Students for Life in America with help from other pro-life groups, the event protested U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel's Oct. 28 ruling that part of the new Texas abortion law is unconstitutional.

"We were really discouraged when we heard about the ruling on Monday," said Kristan Hawkins, president of Virginia-based Students for Life of America.

"This is a common-sense safety standard," she said, referring to admitting privileges within 30 miles. "When you're doing any surgical procedure you should be in good standing with the hospitals in your area."

Yeakel's ruling also partially blocked new restrictions on pregnancy-ending drugs.

Yeakel heard three days of testimony and arguments about the abortion law last week during a trial in Austin.

Melissa L. Conway, external relations director of Texas Right to Life, also spoke at the protest. She said Yeakel's ruling was not all bad news, given that other provisions of the abortion law known as House Bill 2 still stand.

"Despite the headlines that may have focused on the portions of the law that are now temporarily in question, I want to remind everyone that the passage of HB2 was the firm and swift strike against the killing of innocent preborn babies in Texas," Conway said. "Yesterday marked the beginning of a ban on elective abortions on preborn children at five months."

Houston City Councilwoman Helena Brown spoke briefly, saying the issue has been "near and dear" to her heart her whole life.

"As an elected official in the city of Houston I look out for not only streets and drainage and quality of life issues but also public safety," Brown said. "We need to look out for women's safety and support them."

Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, said the Planned Parenthood building is "a shameful monument to a multimillion dollar (abortion) business."

Two Planned Parenthood volunteers stood at the parking lot entrance, in an apparent gesture to help clients enter, but no confrontations took place and no police were visible.

A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.

Students for Life of America (previously known as American Collegians for Life) is based in Manassas, Va., and organizes anti-abortion groups on college and high school campuses throughout the country.

According to its website, its mission is to end abortion by educating students about the issues of abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide; identifying pro-life student leaders; equipping student pro-lifers with the training, skills and resources to be effective and successful; promoting student activity to other local, college and national organizations.

On Jan. 26, 2013, Students for Life of America sold out its 26th annual national conference with 2,000 attendees – making the event the largest pro-life conference in the nation, the website states.